MELBOURNE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese qualifier Bai Zhouxuan produced a dramatic upset over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Sunday's first day of the Australian Open, where top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round.
The first major of the year got underway amid warm temperatures that reached close to 30 degrees Celsius in Melbourne.
China is guaranteed at least one player into the second round after Bai's heroics.
The night session thriller between Bai and Pavlyuchenkova, a former world No.11, saw both players squander match points in a nerve-jangling third set tiebreak.
But Bai emerged with her second victory at a grand slam after prevailing 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (12-10) in two hours and 43 minutes at Kia Arena.
The 23-year-old will face Sabalenka in the second round on the center court of Rod Laver Arena.
"My body is a little bit tired," said Bai, who won three matches in the qualifying draw. "[Sabalenka] is the number one, so everyone wants to play her and I will enjoy playing her."
Sabalenka overcame difficulties adjusting to left-handed French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah before cruising to a 6-4, 6-1 victory in one hour and 16 minutes.
Opening the night session on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka hit 23 winners as she made her push towards a fifth Grand Slam title.
"It's always tricky playing someone young, someone that you don't really know yet and who is also a lefty," said Sabalenka, whose bid for a three-peat of Australian Open titles was thwarted by American Madison Keys in last year's classic final.
"It was a tricky start for me, but I'm super happy to close this match in straight sets."
Seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini and Elina Svitolina, the Ukrainian 12th seed, also eased through to the second round.
Wildcard Venus Williams fell short of a remarkable win at the age of 45 after a three-set heartbreak to Serbia's Olga Danilovic.
In the men's draw, Zhang Zhizhen of China battled hard but could not halt the formidable firepower of 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo.
Argentina's Cerundolo, the highest-ranked player in South America, hit 38 winners in his 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory.
"I played really good today, and I'm super happy. It's a great way to start the year," said Cerundolo, who has never progressed past the fourth round of a major.
It was the second straight year that Zhang, the former world No. 31, failed to win a match at the season's opening grand slam.
In the night session, Alcaraz cruised past Australia's Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in two hours and five minutes.
The 22-year-old is eyeing the only grand slam title that has eluded him, having never progressed past the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park.
"It's been a good match, I felt great and I am pleased with the level that I played today," Alcaraz said.
Earlier, third seed Alexander Zverev dug out of a hole to beat 24-year-old Gabriel Diallo 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 43 minutes.
It was a shaky start for the German, last year's beaten finalist, before he steadied with strong serving and ferocious groundstrokes.
"The first set wasn't my best tennis, but afterwards, when I got into the match, I felt really good on the court and definitely happy with the level," said Zverev, a three-time Grand Slam finalist.
Day two on Monday is highlighted by women's No.2 Iga Swiatek, a six-time grand slam champion, taking on Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue.
No.3 seed Coco Gauff and 10-time men's champion Novak Djokovic also launch their campaigns.
Bu Yunchaokete and Shang Juncheng are the other Chinese players in action. ■
